Today's news

Choose on merit, universities told
Tony Blair became embroiled in the row over university admissions yesterday when he said places should be awarded on merit and not on the basis of class.His remarks in the Commons were seen as a criticism of universities accused of discriminating against privately educated pupils. He also appeared to contradict statements by Charles Clarke, the education secretary, who has devised new ways of ensuring that the top universities admit more students from poor backgrounds.
(Daily Telegraph)

Oxford contender barred
A fifth candidate for the Chancellorship of Oxford University was barred from the race when officials ruled that he had not gained enough eligible supporters. Andrew Malcolm, a philosopher and a Cambridge graduate, failed to gain the 50 valid names necessary for entry to the contest.

Politics on the march again
Academics are amazed by the sudden rise in applications for politics degrees. Is this the effect of September 11, or is there something more profound at work?
(Independent)

Students ban own paper
University of East Anglia student union halted distribution of its newspaper, Concrete , because of a "sexist" ad with a photo for a Norwich lapdance club.
(Guardian)

Source of E.coli has been revealed
Scientists have located the harbour of the E.coli O157 bacterium in cattle, a breakthrough they claim could lead to the eradication of the potentially fatal organism. Veterinary microbiologists at Edinburgh University found that most of the bacteria can be found just inside the animal's rectum.

Lost in space with 2m years to kill
Pioneer 10 , the first man-made object to leave the Solar System, floated off into deep space yesterday with 2 million years to kill before its next chance of finding anything to talk to. The probe has lost contact with mission control 31 years after setting out on its epic voyage of discovery. Next stop is the red star Aldebaran, which is 68 light years away and forms the eye of the constellation Taurus. It will arrive in two million years.
(Times, Independent)